Hot Spinach Dip

Hot spinach dip is a party favorite. It's a crowd-pleaser that's perfect for any occasion, whether it be an intimate holiday gathering or a raucous Super Bowl party. Guests will love indulging in every cheesy bite, and they can feel good about getting some vegetables in at the same time. (You can up the vegetable quota by serving crudités such as carrot and celery sticks along with crackers or baguette slices.) We never cease to be amazed how quickly this dip goes—or how many people head straight for it over the other appetizer options.

What Makes This Dip Party-Perfect

When guests hear that there will be spinach dip at a party, excitement levels go through the roof. The host or hostess preparing the dish is probably just as thrilled, for several reasons. 

• Crowd pleaser: When hosting a party, the ultimate goal is for guests to have a good time and head home thinking about all of the delicious food that they enjoyed. Spinach dip in any form is beloved by all. Of course, what’s not to love about a creamy, cheesy concoction served with toasted bread for scooping?
• Can be made ahead: This appetizer can be baked right away or prepped two days in advance and tucked away in the refrigerator until shortly before the party begins. You’ll need to add five to ten minutes to the overall baking time if you're starting from cold. 
• Quick and easy one-pot dish: You only need one pot to prepare all of the ingredients for this dip. Once the onions and garlic are sautéed and the spinach is wilted, the creamy cheese sauce is made in the same pot. It's then all tossed together before being transferred to a baking dish. 
• Lots of dipping options: We highly recommend serving this dip with plenty of golden toast points, breadsticks, and crackers. Include some crunchy raw vegetables too so that guests have a healthier option if they prefer.

Hot Spinach Dip Ingredients

If you were expecting artichokes in this dip, we’re sorry to disappoint—although, we don’t think you’ll be too discouraged once you take a bite. There are plenty of other flavorful ingredients that make this dip special. 

• Onions and garlic: It all starts by building flavor with sautéed aromatics. Let the onions and garlic sweat for a few minutes in a splash of olive oil. You’ll be able to smell them when they’re ready. 
• Spinach: Two whole pounds of spinach are added to the onion and garlic. Whether you use baby or adult spinach leaves is up to you. Either way, trim away any tough stems and give the leaves a rough chop. We’re looking for bite-sized bits that are easy to eat rather than long, stringy pieces. 
• Cream cheese and mozzarella: Along with some milk, cream cheese is what keeps this dip loose and creamy. Shredded mozzarella melts beautifully throughout. 
• Worcestershire sauce: It's sweet, savory, and acidic, a few dashes of Worcestershire lends a subtle umami flavor to the cheese sauce. 
• Tabasco sauce: You don’t have to use Tabasco brand hot sauce, but we do love how nicely it balances its spice and acid levels. Whatever hot sauce you have at your disposal—Sriracha, Cholula, etc.—will do just fine.